Many of you read my Realistic Resolutions series of posts in January. You may have noticed that I actually tried to keep it realistic- I didn’t talk about making drastic changes to my lifestyle because realistically, they would last for very long.

It’s not that I don’t see opportunity for positive change, it’s just that massive resolutions don’t seem to go well for me (or most people). That said, I have been quietly adding more exercise to my routine since late fall – it’s going well, but I wouldn’t call myself a hard-core fitness addict quite yet.

Enter the FitBit: This device is supposed to motivate us to keep motiovated to get fit. Well, here is how well I have done with that: I received a beautiful FitBit Charge as a gift from TELUS when I became part of #TeamTELUS. (I actually also received a FitBit Flex as a Thank You gift a few months prior as well).

Both remained unopened in their boxes.

I had no desire to monitor my every movement and check in with my device, this is simply just not up my alley, although I can fully appreciate the value it has in motivating SO many people who swear by it.

After all, we know that:

The majority (57 per cent) of consumers said the ability to self-monitor was a major factor in their purchase of a fitness wearable (Nielsen)

Fifty-two per cent of wearable owners primarily use their devices to stay motivated to exercise and stay healthy (MaRS)

Nearly three-quarters of current exercise app users are more active than those who stopped or never used their apps (Journal of Medical Research)

Despite this- I somehow don’t like the idea…maybe I will come around to it….

Then, one day I was having conversation with someone who works at TELUS about all of the fabulous tech that they offer that can be really helpful if someone is deciding to #TakeTheLeap to get fit… (I will actually be trying out a pair of FABULOUS Jaybird X-2 Sport Wireless BUDS when I start walking again in spring!) We were speaking about all of the options available in store & online and I guess I was speaking a mile a minute (as I am prone to do) when she said something to me along the lines of ” You know, Tanya – while everyone else is resolving to get moving, maybe you should consider resolving to slow down”

Hmmmm.

It’s not like resolving to slow down hasn’t occurred to me before ( it’s likely the #1 suggestion that I get form anyone who cares about me…), but in the context of this conversation, it occurred to me that I could use this device to monitor my sleep…This would be perfect…although after further thought, I did not include it as a “Realistic Resolution” because, quite frankly, for me, working on getting more sleep is not.so.easy.

I used to sleep on average between 4-6 hours per night. In the last few years, my body seems to need at least 6 hours, but I don’t always get it…and since I function quite well on less, I don’t really do anything about it.

That said, I have started feeling like I could use a little bit more sleep and studies tell us how EVERYTHING works better with more sleep: Memories & information are sorted and stored at night ( For an easy to understand version of this- just watch Disney’s INSIDE OUT!). Weight gain can be linked to lack of sleep as well. Then there’s the obvious focus and clarity that tends to be better for most people when they are well rested. ( This is my problem- I have found my groove with less, so I don’t seek more).

So all of this inspired me to use my FitBit- not for the purpose of tracking my activity, but for the purpose of tracking my sleep patterns and to find out if I am indeed getting a good night’s rest!

I decided that I would wear it to sleep for at least a week, maybe even two- depending on what I saw happening with my sleep tracking.

I opened both boxes and charged the Flex. That was on February 4th.

That’s as far as I got.

Do you see why resolutions need to be REALLY realistic for me to stick to them????

So today, being LEAP DAY, I have decided to #TakeTheLeap…to SLEEP!

I can’t swear that I will get to bed earlier ( although I do have a cold so that might help, lol), but I WILL wear my FitBit to sleep beginning tonight.

I’ll keep you posted if I find out anything interesting

Now, if like most people you would LOVE To own a fabulous Fitbit Charge HR, with which you can track so much more than just your sleep- including your activity and ever your HEART RATE (thus the HR), then you should definitely enter the #FitBitLEAP GIVEAWAY!

Here’s How:

In order to ENTER THE #FitBitLEAP GIVEAWAY you must:

Leave a comment in the comments section of this post answering the following question: “How would you use your new FitBit Charge HR?”

Tweet this giveaway by retweeting this post using #TakeTheLeap (1 entry for every RT, you can tweet once daily- please leave a link to each tweet in the comments section of this post)

Share a photo of what you are doing to #TakeTheLeap on Instagram, using both hashtags. (1 entry for every instagram post, you can post once daily -please leave a link to each tweet in the comments section of this post)

Add montrealmom.com/blog to your RSS Feed (leave note in comments that you have done so, use same email address for both comment & RSS Feed)

Write about this giveaway on your blog/website and leave me a link to your post in the comments section (counts as 4 entries!)

Read any other post on the montrealmom.com blog and comment on it (please leave a comment on this post as to which post you read & commented on)

The giveaway ends at 11:59 PM on Sunday, March 6th, 2016. Winner will be chosen at random and will be contacted via email on Monday, March 7th, 2016. Please make sure your email address is correctly entered in the comments section as the winner will notified via email. Winner must answer a skill-testing question before claiming prize. Open to Canadian residents only.

Any litigation respecting the conduct or organization of a publicity contest may be submitted to the Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux for a ruling. Any litigation respecting the awarding of a prize may be submitted to the Régie only for the purpose of helping the parties reach a settlement.

This giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Instagram or Twitter.

Wishing you and your all the best for for Leap Day & beyond 😉

Tanya

Disclosure: I am part of #TeamTelus and from time to time receive products and access to special events. As always, all opinions contained herein are my own and can never be bought

My unconventional use for my FitBit: Taking the LEAP to SLEEP! #TakeTheLeap {GIVEAWAY CLOSED} was last modified: April 20th, 2016 by Tanya Toledano

I just received the exact Fit Bit Charge HR pictured above for my BD 2 days ago (OK bought it myself but my kids wrapped it :)). So far it has got me out 2 days in a row to walk my dog with my kids (something I have to admit I rarely, if ever do!). If I won the Fit Bit Charge HR I would give it to my husband to monitor his sleep as he thinks he gets more sleep than he actually does! Love your blog posts Tanya!

I have tried so many other heart rate devices (different companies) to track my exercise performance, however – I wasn’t so happy with the results. I heard that the FitBit Charge HR is pretty accurate and has multiple functions that would motivate and challenge exercise. I am looking forward to see if this is the device i was looking for????

I am dying to try the Fitbit to see how my heart rate changes when I walk to work, or go for a short run. I have no idea what my heart are is doing, and would be super curious to see! Please pick me!!!!! My birthday is coming and I could use the motivation!

I would use it to track my sleep. Having a baby has really affected the quality of my sleep. Tracking how much rest I am getting will allow me to see if there is a problem and will help me remediate the issue.

Can it track all the chauffeuring the kids around, to school, back, hockey, music, friends houses, forgot homework at school, back to arena, home for dinner, and then maybe the 4 hours sleep, in between working 26 hrs a day?

I would use the Fitbit not only for myself but for my 200some students. I am a physical education teacher and a huge part of what I am seeing today is kids on technology and not doing enough exercise. With that I have started in elementary school a major fitness and health unit to get the kids more active in and out of the class.
If I were to have a Fitbit I would not only be able to personally use it for my tracking and for tracking my sleep pattern but to show them how technology can be a part of keeping track of activity and keeping them active but I can also have a different student wear the Fitbit during class to monitor their activity!

Good for you, Tanya! I would love to have the Fitbit Charge HR to wear during my soccer games AND to track my sleep. Like you, I’ve learned how to function on less, but I know it’s negatively affecting my health.

Twitter: @CorinnaRake
I follow TELUS (have been a customer since 1999!) and @montreal_mom

Hi Tanya,
What an awesome contest! Since my last pregnancy, I’ve taken a keen interest in the fluctuations in my heart rate and I’d love a more constant tracking: whether from stress, exertion, caffeine intake or otherwise, I would use my new FitBit Charge HR to help me become more aware of daily trends that send me on that “rush.”
Just want to say that my increased hours and quality of sleep (thanks to CPAP) really do make a huge difference in my life and daily functioning so I hope your FitBit helps you achieve some extra sleep balance!
Thanks again Tanya and good luck to all!

I would use a Fitbit to hold myself accountable when it comes to working out. I also think it would help me stay motivated ?? followed with Twitter name @NitaMariee thanks for the chance at this awesome giveaway

I was looking at these the other day! I am tired of the cheap pedometers that I buy and have to replace every so often. With a FitBit, I would be able to monitor both my activity and rest. I love competing with myself and a monitoring device challenges me to work harder.

I would use the Fitbit in so many ways but right now I’m most interested in tracking my sleep. The past few months my sleep patterns are all over the place. Some nights I can`t keep my eyes open at 10pm and other nights I can`t get to sleep until 4am. I’ve also been waking up really early some days. I would love to see if I can find some patterns!

I would use the FitBit alongside my kids as a family fitness motivation tool. We’ve started to take family walks together & this would really help visually show the kids exactly what our progress is, using a technological tool that is on their level.